What did the Emancipation Proclamation do?

The Emancipation Proclamation, issued by President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, declared the freedom of all enslaved people in the Confederate states. This was a pivotal moment in American history and marked a key turning point in the Civil War. The proclamation did not free slaves in border states loyal to the Union, nor did it legally abolish slavery throughout the entire United States at that time. However, it fundamentally changed the character of the Civil War by making the fight against slavery a central goal alongside the preservation of the Union. This action also allowed for the recruitment of African American soldiers into the Union Army, significantly bolstering its numbers and furthering the cause of emancipation across the nation.

The other options, while touching on significant historical themes, do not pertain to the specific content and impact of the Emancipation Proclamation. For example, creating new states in the Union or reforming the military draft are not activities associated with the proclamation, and the establishment of civil rights for all Americans came later, notably with the Civil Rights Movement in the mid-20th century. Thus, the answer focused specifically on the liberation of slaves within the Confederate states, which was the critical outcome of the Emancipation Proclamation